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Known by a number of common names, lemon beebalm is a 1-2 ft., aromatic annual with unusual, tuft-like, lavender to pink, whorled flower heads. Each whorl in the elongated spike is subtended by whitish or lavender, leaf-like bracts. Several stems grow from the base and are lined with pairs of lance-shaped leaves.
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Bergamo Beebalm
Monarda Citriodora 'Bergamo'
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Linnaeus named the genus Monarda in honor of a 16th century Spanish physician and botanist, Nicolas Bautista Monardes (1493-1588). Monardes studied medicinal plants brought back to Spain from the New World.
Horsemint has a distinctive citrus or lemony scent when the leaves are rubbed or crushed. It is very easy to grow and often forms large colonies. Bees and butterflies are attracted to this plant
Known by several names, Monarda citriodora, can be called lemon beebalm, purple horsemint, lemon mint, plains horsemint, lemon horsemint, horsemint, and purple lemon mint.
- Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
- Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. and; A. Wasowski
- Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. and; L. Loughmiller
- Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. and; K.C. Bender
- Useful wild plants of Texas, the Southeastern and Southwestern United States, the Southern Plains, and Northern Mexico (Volume 1: Abronia-Arundo) (1995) S. Cheatham; M. C. Johnston; L. Marshall
- Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
- Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.
- Spiders associated with lemon horsemint in east central Texas, Martin Nyffeler, et al.
- Evaluation of the Antifungal Activity of the Essential Oils of Monarda citriodora, Bishop.
© Grassroots Horticulture
2000-2019
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Your Monarda is lovely. I've made a note to add some this spring in just that shade. It's a native plant in this area and I've see in growing in gravel lots. Tough but very pretty. Thank you for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYour Monarda is lovely. I've made a note to add some this spring in just that shade. It's a native plant in this area and I've see in growing in gravel lots. Tough but very pretty. Thank you for the inspiration.
ReplyDelete